(_For a Time of National Distress._)
xxvi. 20. _Come, my people, &c._
The history of humanity as a whole, and of nations and communities as
a part, is like that of individual man, diversified and varying, made
up of hope and fear, of joy and sorrow. There is a "but" in every
condition, a crook in every lot. The people of God, however, have
alleviations which the world knows not of. They have promises of
present comfort and help, hopes of future recompense, and they are
invited to make God their Refuge now. This was very much the case
with the captive Jews in Babylon. Wars and commotions would rage as a
tempest around Babylon, and bring its overthrow. But while the storm
raged, the people of God were to be calm and tranquil; were to enter
into their places of retirement, and avoid the commotions of war.
This passage is a word in season to God's people now.
I. THE PERSONS INVITED. "My people." This was addressed to the Jews,
who stood in a peculiar relation to God. It has now a wider range. It
may include--1. _Those who are His by profession._ This includes a
large portion of the people of this land. Many of these, however, are
out of Christ, and they are specially invited to repair to Him as
their complete and only refuge from the storms of conscience and the
righteous displeasure of a Holy God. 2. _Those who are His by
personal consecration._ Not only received into the visible Church by
an outward profession, but have become living members of that
mystical body of which Christ is the Head. In times of danger and
distress, when the judgments of God are in the earth, they are
invited to repair to Christ. He is a complete refuge from every storm.
II. THE DUTY ENJOINED. 1. _The form of the injunction._ No terrible
threatening, but mild and compassionate invitation. Though our
Redeemer and Master has a right to command, yet He more frequently
employs the language of invitation. 2. _The place of retreat._ We may
think of many sacred localities to which we may repair in this time
of national or individual sorrow. There is the open _sanctuary._ This
to many is a place of refuge and comfort. There is the _home._
Families may meet and together commune with God. There is the
_private closet._ There we may humble ourselves, mourn our own faults
and those of others, and seek God's favour. But after we have
thoughts of all these places we must go much further, into a more
mysterious and safer sanctuary. These are only the _way_ to the City
of Refuge; only the _plank_ by which we may ascend to the Ark; only
the _door-way_ into the Temple. Ours must be the language of the
Apostle (John vi. 68). 3. _The purpose of retirement._ For defence.
Israel must remain within the blood-sprinkled doors while the
destroying angel wields his sword outside. Rahab and her family abide
within their dwelling while Jericho is destroyed. Amid the tokens of
danger and the coming storm, we are to hide ourselves in the
perfections of God, in the merits of Christ. We must enter into the
ark, and like Noah expect the Lord to shut us in. When the Hebrews
had sprinkled the blood of the Paschal lamb, the command was, "None
of you shall go out of his house till the morning." The manslayer
could not go within the City of Refuge. Here in Christ, God manifest
in the flesh, is safety from every danger, a complete Refuge in every
time of need.
CONCLUSION.--The whole of this year has been marked more or less by
personal, relative, or national calamity. It opened in storm, and a
fine ship, the _London,_ perished. Pestilence among the cattle
followed. War broke out and mercantile prosperity waned. Now a
painful visitation is among us. God is now calling you to
Himself.--_George Smith, D.D., August_ 9, 1866.